Flexible bedpan



Dec. 19, 1961 J. c. NEUDIGATE 3,013,279

FLEXIBLE BEDPAN Filed Aug. 25, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. NEuo/ ATE )MW States This invention relates to bed pans of the general type conventionally and extensively in use for the ease and relief of non-ambulatory humans, and has an object to provide a novel and improved such facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan of enhanced use convenience and user comfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan that is comfortably conformable to the positions and occasions of its use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan that is flexibly adaptable to specific use requirements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan that is selectively extensible to condition of use and alternatively collapsible to compact form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan effective in use to minimize soilage of the person, garments, and bedding of a user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bed pan that is expedient of enconomical production in a wide range of preferred sizes and shapes, that is invertible, if desired, for effective cleansing, that is durable throughout a long life of repetitions use, and that is practical and eflicient in attainment of the ends for which designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a typical embodiment of the invention in collapsed, non-use condition.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the organization according to FIGURE 1 as pneumatically extended, ready for use.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the organization according to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the organization according to FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section, on a relatively enlarged scale, longitudinally of the organization according to FIGURE 2 taken substantially on the indicated line 55 of said latter view.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section, on the same scale as FIGURE 5, transversely of the organization according to FIGURE 2 taken substantially on the indicated line 6-6 of said latter view.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, detail, top plan view, partially in section, of a modified construction within the contemplation of the invention in condition for use.

The use characteristics, deficiencies, and inadequacies of conventional rigid-type bed pans are so universally known as to preclude occasion for elaboration herein. Such facilities hitherto available have been notably less than satisfactory, and it is hence to the provision of a novel and improved bed pan uniquely free from the shortcomings common to the earlier constructions that the instant invention is directed.

In a unitary assembly of any preferred appropriate size and shape, the improvement of the invention cornprises a flat sheet 10 of relatively-thin, flexible, impermeable material such as rubber, synthetic resin, or the like, having a length considerably exceeding its width, which is marginally bonded to and tangentially of a atent tube 11 of the same, or like, material continuous along and coextensive with one end and both side margins thereof. As a generally U-shaped member embracing the sheet 10, said tube 11 terminates at the end of the sheet not traversed thereby in spaced ends which are closed by an extension, or flap continuation, 12 of said sheet which is curved upwardly thereover and firmly bonded thereto as a pocket transversely of the sheet therebetween. The tube 11, closed as above described, is furnished with a conventional inflation valve 13 at any convenient point of its length for the introduction, retention, and release of pneumatic pressure in a usual manner. The non-use condition with no elevation of pressure interiorly thereof, the tube 11 is deflated as represented in FIGURES 1 and 3 and is amenable, with the associated sheet 10, to folding, rolling, or any appropriate compaction facilitative of unit storage and handling, from which non-use condition the unit is readied for use through simple inflation of said tube by means of the valve 13 is coacting with any convenient source or supply of air under pressure. Inflated at suitable pressure, the tube 11 stiffens and expands to upstand as a confining rib about the three margins of the associated sheet and firms the unit with the sheet 10 tautened and the extension 1-2 tensed and elevated to complete a shallow tray adapted to retain liquids received therein, all as should be readily and fully apparent.

Substantially parallel to the portion of the tube 11 closing transversely across the end of the sheet 10, and spaced inwardly of the unit therefrom, a tube 14 is bonded at its ends to and spans as an arch, or inverted V, between the parallel long members of the tube 11 in free interior communication therewith. The tube 14 is of material the same as, or equivalent to, that utilized for the sheet 10 and tube 1 1 and hence reacts to inflation and deflation of the latter to fold toward the sheet 10 between the parallel members of the tube 11, as in FIGURES 1 and 3, when deflation obtains and to rise as an arch transversely spanning the sheet 10 in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto when inflation pressure is adequately present, as clearly indicated by FIG- URES 2, 4, 5 and 6, in which extended disposition said tube 14 expediently functions as a handle convenient for removal and carrying of the used unit. Significant to an important advantage of the improvement, the tube 14 is bonded to an end of the sheet extension 12 thereby positioned to spacedly overhang the corresponding portion of the sheet 10 as a pouch closed at its sides through bonding of the extension side margins to upper arcs of the subjacent long members of the tube 11, which pouch is open only through the arch of the tube 1-4. As is clearly shown by the views of the drawing, the sheet extension 12 in its connection with the tube 14 and long members of the tube 11 reacts to inflation and deflation of the latter to rise and to fold with said tube I4 in an obvious manner constituting said extension as a spatter shield when the unit is in use.

The arrangement according to FIGURE 7 differs from the typical construction of the other views only in the provision of a supplementary tube length 11 adjacently paralleling the portion of the tube 11 at the end of the sheet 19 in interior communication therewith, as through holes 15 intersecting the interbonded Walls of the soassociated elements, in a manner to apply inflation and deflation of the tube 11 to and with like effect upon the length 11'. The end portion of the unit remote from that covered by the sheet extension 12 being adapted to receive the person of the user, the provision of the length 11 in supplementing relation with the corresponding portion of the tube 11 minimizes undesirable compression of the tray rib under the weight thereon imposed.

Deflated, the unit is compact, convenient of handling and storage, and invertible, if desired, for easy and thorough cleansing. Inflated, the unit is adequately firm, secure as to contents, comfortable of use, and handily portable. The unit may be applied to position of use in either inflated or deflated condition, as particular situations may indicate; it being manifest that placing of the defiated unit may be accomplished with minimum disturbance of the user who is subjected to but gentle and moderate elevation as the placed unit is inflated to use condition.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had Without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bed pan comprising a flat sheet of flexible, impermeable material having a length exceeding its width, a tube of like material affixed marginally to one face of said sheet coextensively with one end and both long sides thereof, a longitudinal extension of said sheet fixedly closing over and spanning as an open-end pocket between the spaced ends of said tube, valve means associated with said tube for the pneumatic inflation thereof, a continuation of said sheet extension spacedly overlying a portion of said sheet in edge attachment to proximate portions of said tube and terminating in a free margin opposed to and inwardly paralleling the tube element at the end of the sheet, a second tube loosely spanning transversely of the sheet between and in interior communication with the spacedly-parallel members of said first tube, and a connection of the free margin of the sheet extension continuation to said second tube eflective to position and support the same as a spatter shield in pouch-defining separation from the associated sheet in consequence of tube inflation acting to distend said second tube.

2. The organization according to claim 1, wherein a supplementary tube of flexible, impermeable material inwardly adjoins the portion of said first tube traversing an end of the associated sheet in tangential engagement With the latter and interiorly communicates with the latter for inflation simultaneously therewith.

Reterences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,751 Snyder Dec. 21, 1920 1,981,666 Ridley NOV. 20, 1934 2,714,212 Reed Aug. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 636,776 Great Britain -a May 3, 1950 

